When a couple chooses to pursue a divorce, it often entails lengthy court battles, costly attorney’s fees, and emotional and psychological duress. For this reason, some couples who might otherwise choose to end their marriage may put off divorce.

There is an alternative means to ending marriage, however, one which is faster, much cheaper and less stressful, and which results in solutions that are more agreeable to divorcing couples – divorce mediation. Meditation enables couples to settle all divorce-related issues, including distribution of assets and liabilities, child custody and visitation rights, child support and alimony, in an amicable way. A mediator, who acts as a go-between the couple and their lawyers, offers suggestions and helps the couple reach a settlement quickly.

The process of mediation does not require the couple to be represented by lawyers. Through a third party called the mediator, this private and confidential process can proceed, giving the couple significant freedom in settling all the relevant issues. Other benefits of the mediation process include:

cost – while a divorce case may take the court weeks or months to settle, mediation may take only hours.

confidentiality – in mediation, only the couple and the mediator know what transpired during the process. The divorcing couple’s lives and what they agree on never become part of the public record.

compliance – since the solutions arrived at are products of mutual consent, compliance to these agreements is more likely.

Though mediation is steadily becoming a popular option, it is not perfect for all couples, particularly those in contentious relationships who cannot meet an acceptable middle ground. To determine whether mediation is the right option for your divorce settlement, it is best to consult with a qualified divorce attorney about your situation and learn more about the differences between divorce processes.

The process of ending a marriage and settling all related issues legally is often emotional and fairly complex, which can make some couples have second thoughts about ending a marriage which is otherwise unsustainably. Nevertheless, couples who wish to end their marriage do not necessarily have to undergo a traumatic, costly, time-intensive process. In fact, there are a number of ways in which a divorce can be pursued simply and effectively, as long as both parties are willing to work together.

While it is true that some divorce cases can only be settled in the court, it is also true that divorce through mediation can help husbands and wives settle their divorce amicably, sparing them time in court and costly legal fees. Mediated divorce, which is quickly becoming a more popular way of reaching a divorce settlement, allows couples to decide on their own how they wish to separate and to draft their own agreement. This type of settlement also helps to diminish the pressure connected to divorce, allowing individuals to stay in control of the whole process.

Meditation is aimed at helping couples find the most ideal solutions to all divorce-related issues. With their respective lawyers (hiring a lawyer is optional, though highly recommended) they discuss things before a mediator until they come to terms that are most agreeable to both of them. Though a mediator may offer his or her opinion at times, he or she cannot force any agreement on the spouses.

Some of the reasons why this alternative to more traditional methods of divorce is more preferable include: it greatly reduces time and money spent; it allows couples to see the most agreeable solutions themselves; it promotes confidentiality, free from courtroom spectators and reporters; it allows the couples to communicate freely and effectively; and, most of all, it puts the couple in total control of the process and the outcome.